Upon receiving a grant from the Fayette County Community Foundation, MWA has created a resource library of outdoor gear and educational resources available to the public. This comprehensive and inclusive resource library will be located right in MWA’s office and items will be available to be checked out during our office hours. There are diverse materials available for all ages, with extra items for small ones just beginning to explore the outdoors. It is our hope that this resource library will not only bring more members of our community through our door, but help get them outside in our beautiful watershed.
For People of All Ages
Available for rental are pre-packed children’s backpacks for different age ranges and different interests such as trees, bugs, and nature fun. We even have a backpack made specifically for wintertime activities when we sometimes need that extra motivation and inspiration to get outside.
These backpacks include guides, notebooks for nature journaling and drawing, activity packets, books, and more! The purpose of these backpacks is to help parents bridge the gap between their child and the outdoors and show them fun and easy ways for the whole family to get immersed in nature.
There will also be an entire collection of field guides available on topics included but not limited to: mushroom foraging, medicinal plants, freshwater fishing, tree identification, bird watching, and so much more. There will be substantial educational materials available for local educators and teachers to use in their classrooms, thanks to a grant award from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education grant program.
It is important to us that the resource library is inclusive to all ages and experience levels and that is why we will be offering such a wide variety of literature and materials. For instance, we will have children’s binoculars for first time birdwatchers and Bushnell binoculars for the avid adult birdwatcher! Children’s fishing poles and waders will also be available thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This is an awesome way to quite literally test the waters with kids and try out a new hobby! For those really interested in exploring the wonders and inner workings of our watershed, we will even have macroinvertebrate collecting kits!
It is completely free to rent items from the resource library. All you have to do is check them out here at the office and bring them back within a decided upon return date. Items can be rented for multiple days as we want people to be able to take them on camping trips or for educators to be able to utilize materials in their classroom, etc.! We are so excited to be able to offer such an inclusive and diverse collection of resources and materials to our community. Opening the resource library in early November of 2022, we are eager to see new faces here in our office!
Upcoming Educational Events
MWA is partnering with the Allegheny Land Trust to host a 2-hour environmental education training. Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education curriculum that builds on children’s sense of wonder…
Join MWA for a FREE family-friendly field day at Laurel Hill State Park!